• The winners, organisers and golf club members having Australia Day Fun!
Shirley Lindsay, the lady behind the Karragarra Island famous Seamarket success in recent times was announced the 2018 Australia Day Bay Islander of the Year.
Shirley was among a number of islanders who were up for the nomination, but her efforts in growing and developing the Karragarra Sea Markets into a true all-island event, was telling.
She was one of the four big winners on Australia Day at the major presentation event held at the Bay Islands Golf Club on Macleay Island on Australia’s big day.
Shirley was both ‘surprised and delighted’ at her win.
She said developing the Karragarra Sea Markets into a ‘major island event’ was ‘unexpected, but wonderful. Thank you so much.’
The Australia Day Bay Islander of the Year seniors award was made to popular island Catholic Parish priest, Father Jim Browne.
‘Father Jim’ turned 80 last year but still serves the island community in a multitude of ways.
He is constantly in demand performing religious services and visiting the sick in hospitals throughout SE Queensland and is an icon at island RSL events.
The Junior Bay Islander of the Year was Bay Islands Golf Club junior Jack Burnitt.
He won the club ‘C’grade club championship last year and is a member of the club’s pennant team
Young Jack is a junior golfer with considerable promise and was selected for the lead he is giving to other island youngsters to get involved with their community and to keep active playing a sport.
A new award this year, The Australia Day Friendly Bay Islander of the Year 2018 was made to Kitti Schell of Macleay Island.
Kitti is well known for her ‘smile’ and acts of generosity and kindness.
She is also a health and fitness ‘guru’; she runs island tai chi and pilates classes and has provided help and assistance via a volunteer program in the prisons system, as well as working closely with the aboriginal community.
The Australia Day awards were held at the Bay Islands Golf Club for the first time.
The awards, first started in 2015, have previously been held at Sandy Beach on Russell Island thanks to the Sandy Beach Kayak and Sailing Club.
Again the awards were sponsored by The Friendly Bay Islander and Cr Mark Edwards, the Division 5 representative on Redland City Council.
A special guest at the awards was young islander Mara Stransky who is currently ranked the leading female sailor in Australia and is hoping to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics.
She told the big attendance about her efforts in trying to achieve Australian representation.
If she does achieve Olympic selection, she will be the first Islander to ever be selected to represent Australia at an Olympic Games.
Cr Edwards made the presentations jointly with new State Member for Redlands, Kim Richards.
Both Kim Richards and Cr Mark Edwards congratulated the winners and highlighted the ‘sense of community’ that exists on the islands.
• Shirley Lindsay receiving her award from Kim Richards and Mark Edwards.
• Father Jim Browne receiving his seniors award from Kim Richards and Mark Edwards.
• Young Jack Burnitt gets his awards from Kim Richards and Mark Edwards.
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